澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-09-06

 The rift¹ between Federal Labor² and the Greens is widening after the government dropped a key part of its clean energy policy. It's pulling out of its plan to buy high polluting coal-fired power stations and shut them down. Greens leader Christine Milne says labor can no longer be trusted on the environment.

 

The Afghan government says hundreds of soldiers have been sacked or detained for having links with the Taliban. It comes amid international concern over the rising number of insider attacks on NATO troops. Yesterday the bodies of three Australian troops shot by their Afghan colleague were returned home.

 

Parts of the south of the country have been buffeted³ by damaging gales⁴ overnight. Wind gusts⁵ of up to 100 kilometers an hour have roared through south Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Much of the damage is from fallen trees and powerlines.

 

A large earthquake has struck Costa Rica, the 7.9 magnitude quake was 20 kilometers below the surface near the Pacific coast. The tsunami⁶ warning had been issued but it's since been canceled.

 

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is under growing international pressure to step down. His government has been denounced at a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers. Turkey's prime minister says Syria has become a terrorist state. And Egypt's president says the time has come for an immediate⁷ change.

1 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 buffeted   

反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去

参考例句：

• to be buffeted by the wind 被风吹得左右摇摆
• We were buffeted by the wind and the rain. 我们遭到风雨的袭击。

4 gales   

龙猫

参考例句：

• I could hear gales of laughter coming from downstairs. 我能听到来自楼下的阵阵笑声。
• This was greeted with gales of laughter from the audience. 观众对此报以阵阵笑声。

5 gusts   

一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作

参考例句：

• Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
• Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。

6 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。